Readiness Visit

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May 23, 2011

Visitation Team Members:
  • Freida Lange, AdvancED Director, Nebraska Department of Education
  • Don Loseke, Special Education Director - Nebraska Department of Education; retired, Nebraska City Public Schools
In attendance: Melissa Anderson, Ben Anthony, Mary Beel, Phil Brown, Nicole Buchanan, Kim Buckendahl, Darlene Cleal, Geraldine Erickson, Augustine Fernandes, Patty Finney, Julie Garrison, Germaine Johnson, Shawnee Latimer, Becky LeZotte, Peggy McDaniel, Jeff McQuistan, Scotty Nelson, Patty Pier, Dennis Radford, Lisa Schlueter
Board members: Renee Adkisson, Jean Pinney joined us toward the end of the morning.

Rule 84 - Accreditation Rule for Educational Service Units. It is currently being revised, with a January 2012 target date. 7 ESU administrators: Matt Blomstedt, Marge Beaty, Matt Shepherd (LPS), Jeff West (13), Norm Ronnell (7), Paul Calvert (15), Dave Ludwig (2). Before it's passed, it has to be reviewed by attorneys, then to the State Board of Education, then to Hearing, then to State Board, and to Attorney General (constitutionality), Governer (signature). Need to be kept informed of the new language that is being proposed.

Readiness Self-Assessment. Q&A. Determination of capacity to meet Standards, action plans, commitment. Meeting a national standard.

PROFILE:
  • it is something that we develop FOR US, not as a compliance measure
  • multiple sources of data (4)
    • surveys: perceptual data - meaningful statements
    • student achievement data - knowing what is happening with the students who are out there (NeSA, MAP, DIBELS, PLAN, ACT etc.) cross-reference with who's attending workshops
    • programs - workshops
    • demographic - FRM, ethnicity, mobility
  • bring these 4 elements together determines what we need to be delivering, developing priorities
  • what makes us unique as a service unit
  • put it into an easy-to-understand format for the visitation team (for presentation)
  • roadblocks to data access: what can we do to help make them comfortable with providing us access
  • check our school districts' profiles to see what information is included
  • Frameworks document via NDE, tools available

ESA PowerPoint

Highlights:
  • AdvancED process: help us to better serve our schools and students
  • 27 districts accredited in Nebraska
  • 6 education service agencies nationwide
  • Our visit will only include 5 Standards (#s 6 &7 will become embedded in #s 1-5)
  • 5 standards with 33 total indicators:
    • Purpose and Direction
    • Governance and Leadership
    • Teaching and Learning - Documenting and Using Results
    • Resources and Support Systems
    • Commitment
  • continuity - . . . . (slide 13)
  • external review - every 5 years
  • external team will meet with board, superintendents, school teachers, ESU staff: formal interviews and observations
  • external chair will meet with leadership team to develop agenda
  • meeting Rule 84 requirements
  • SAR: written report (narrative); Self Assessment (SA) on the 5 Standards
  • will receive a Report that will be shared with schools, in addition to required actions
  • submit process connected to required actions online (APR)

Next Steps
  • We will receive a notification from AdvancED regarding candidacy
  • After the QAR we will then receive our accreditation status

Documentation from January 4, 2011 Agency Staff CIP Work Session:

In reviewing the Self-Assessment, the following strengths were identified:
  • We are meeting as an agency, going through the process that includes the survey and action plans.
  • Opportunities for professional development are provided, should we chose to take them.
  • We provide quality professional development opportunities, student support services, and assessment of student performance (MAP).
  • All departments are represented in the process of improvement.
  • We are taking the initiative to improve.

In reviewing the Self-Assessment, the following areas of improvement were identified:
  • Knowledge of overall agency operations and opportunities (being aware of what every department is doing).
  • Using electronic modes to attend trainings.
  • Participation rate and follow through (member schools)
  • Improving and monitoring student learning.
  • Limited access to learner performance data.
  • Accountability (individual) and what goals are in place.

After discussing the results of the Self-Assessment, overall thoughts about what we learned about ESU #17:
  • We have different points of view depending on our individual roles within the ESU.
  • There will be much more emphasis on connection with student learning.
  • If there is something we need to know, it’s OK to ask.
  • These questions helped us to think of ourselves as a whole Unit and not individual departments or individuals; we are more connected, a ‘family’.
  • This (AdvancED) is a more concrete and objective process than what we had been doing.